You are here

Chamber plans street dance/beer garden

Though still just in the preliminary planning stages, the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce took steps Tuesday toward hosting a new event in the community this summer. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Chamber Director Donnis Hueftle-Bullock presented a request for the Chamber to host a street dance and beer garden July 12, in conjunction with Crazy Days. Early plans are to have the event on South C Street, between South 8th and South 9th Avenues. Bullock told the Council that Dollar General has agreed to closing the street that night for the dance, as have the other businesses facing South C Street. The Broken Bow Police Department also said they were fine with the idea, though Police Chief Steve Scott did recommend ending the dance at midnight rather than 1 a.m., which Bullock said they already planned to do. Bullock said she and Mo Hunsburger, Chamber President, have been working on the project and have already looked into such issues as fencing requirements, vendors, license requirements and wrist bands. She says both Sylvester’s and the Bonfire have been contacted and both are on board with the idea. The start time for the event would depend on the number of food vendors, Bullock explained. However, it would likely not start earlier than 5:30 or 6 p.m. She says they still have not lined up a band for the dance, and she also told the Council that it may be too late to pull the event off this year, forcing the Chamber to push it back to next year. The Council did, however, approve the request to close South C Street on the night of July 12, in the event the dance takes place. In other action by the Council April 9: • Approval was given on the recommendation of the Board of Public Works for the purchase of a new bucket truck for the city’s electric department. Three bids were received - two for used trucks and one for a new model. Electrical Superintendent Doug Stabb told the Council there was only a difference of $5,000 between the used trucks with 20,000 miles or more and the brand new one. The Council approved the purchase of the 2014 model, and agreed to allow the electric department to keep their old truck as well. • Park Superintendent Dan Anderson presented the Operating Rules and Policies for the aquatic center as recommended by the Park Board. The Council approved the policies as presented. • Anderson also addressed the Council with a recommendation from the Park Board to instate a fee for the use of city parks and facilities for “for profit” events. He explained that events such as sports clinics that are held at the Melham Complex are private events, sometimes charging as much as $50-$75 per child for attendance. Anderson says he does not feel the City is justified in allowing the facility to be used free of charge, but rather believes a minimal charge would help pay for the lighting and upkeep for the facility. The Park Board recommended a usage fee of 10 percent of whatever the user makes on the event hosted at one of the City’s parks or facilities. This would exclude events hosted by the Broken Bow Optimists or the DYO. The Council agreed, and approved the application for the usage fee. • City Administrator David Varley presented the Council with a request authorizing JEO to conduct a survey and deed research on South K Street between South 3rd Avenue and South 5th Avenue. The survey would determine existing right-of-way on South K Street, which has been a subject of question for a few years. The issue once again came to the forefront recently as plans are being made to develop the property on the south side of that street into an apartment complex. Varley says allowing this survey and deed research would “finally settle the right-of-way issue.” The Council agreed to authorize JEO to proceed with the survey and deed research at a cost not to exceed $2,720. Following this discussion, the Council adjourned into closed session to discuss union negotiations. No decisions were made following closed session.